Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Western Kingbird
Scientific name:	Tyrannus verticalis
Date:	January 31, 2007
Time:	1:30 pm
Length of time observed:	10 sec
Number:	1
Age:	AHY
Sex:	n/a
Location:	Off SR-9 between Rockville and Virgin just west of Zion NP (north side of road).
County:	Washington
Latilong:	~ 37 N, 113 W
Elevation:	n/a
Distance to bird:	25-30 feet
Optical equipment:	none, naked eye
Weather:	Partly cloudy
Light Conditions:	Excellent
Description: Size of bird:	Small robin
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Slender, long wings
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Mix of grey(gray), white and black with yellow belly
(Description:) Bill Type:	Flycatcher/kingbird
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Grey crown and head with dark line through eye, mantle similarly grey contrasting with dark wings and tail. Pale white-greyish throat and upper breast with a lemon yellow belly. Dark bill slender. Underwing and leg colour and were not observed. In flight, this bird definitely showed a rounded tail that was quite black/dark, and as it banked trying to catch some sort of prey, I saw a hint of pale white along outer edges of tail. I must admit that at first the bird's face appeared quite dark suggesting Cassin's, but its pale throat and tail pattern rules out that species. Overall jizz immediately suggested a kingbird to me as it sat perched and then it briefly hawked for some sort of insect/prey in the sage/chaparral beside the road. Outside temp was about 43F so I was quite surprised to see this species in winter at this location. I was unclear of its significance by date until I consulted a state checklist later that day (note I was not on a birding trip, but on a business road trip traveling with my sales manager -- otherwise, I would have likely pulled over and photographed the bird, something I now very much regret in hindsight!).
Song or call & method of delivery:	n/a
Behavior:	Perched and then seen hawking for insect/prey in short flight.
Habitat:	Open country/chaparral with no trees nearby and just bare low hills.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Species_Elimination: Cassin's Kingbird is a much darker bird with a pale tipped tail and slightly heavier look overall; Tropical has a much heavier/longer bill with a notched, not rounded tail; Couch's is similarly much heavier overall with a different bill. Eastern is essentially a black-and-white kingbird without a yellow belly.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I have seen all of North America's 'Tyrannus' except for Fork-tailed either in Canada, and/or on travels in western, southwestern, and southern US. Note that I am quite familiar with Tropicals as while rare, they do in fact show up with some regularity on Vancouver Island most years in late fall; Westerns are an uncommon but regular visitor/transient here in spring and summer. [If it helps: note as well that I have a banding master permit and have been birding for about 17 years. I am also chair of the Victoria Bird Records Committee].
References consulted:	National Geogrphic and then Sibley on return home later in week.
Description from:	Notes made later
Observer:	David Allinson
Observer's address:	572 Atkins Ave. Victoria, BC V9B 3A3 Canada
Observer's e-mail address:	passerine@shaw.ca
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	n/a
Date prepared:	February 4, 2007
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